New Voices 2008: Paper Mill Goes Platinum!, Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)276-4343, www.papermill.org. Amazing vocal talents are in the spotlight this month! Directed and choreographed by Paper Mill Playhouse’s professional artistic staff, this special two-day event is the culminating event of Paper Mill’s five week Summer Conservatory. The concert features over 100 students from the Senior, Junior Plus and Junior Divisions of the Conservatory, where for five weeks the students (ages 10-18) take classes in singing, dancing, acting, improvisation and attend guest artist workshops led by professional actors, directors and casting agents. All performances are held live on stage at the Paper Mill Playhouse, located on Brookside Drive in Millburn. 8/1, 2. Call the box office for show times and ticket prices.

Play Ball! - New Jersey Jackals Baseball Action!, Yogi Berra Stadium, on the Campus of Montclair State University, Little Falls, (973)655-8025, www.jackals.com. The 2008 season is almost over, so don’t wait if you haven’t had a chance to catch the New Jersey Jackals in action! Jackals baseball gives families the perfect opportunity to enjoy the magic of professional baseball without paying major league ticket prices. Special promotional games during the final month of the regular season include: THE FIREWORKS SPECTACULARS on 8/2, 16 and 28; WILD WEST NIGHT on 8/7; SPRINGSTEEN SUNDAY/KIDS RUN THE BASES DAY on 8/17; JIMMY BUFFET NIGHT on 8/23; and YOGI BERRA AUTOGRAPH NIGHT on 8/27. Call for game schedules and ticket prices.

Summer Rides and Attractions, Keansburg Amusement Park, Beachway Avenue, Keansburg, (732)495-1400, www.keansburgamusementpark.com. In addition to offering a multitude of rides and attractions, a brand new kiddie area and the amazing Runaway Rapids Water Park, Keansburg Amusement Park makes August even more memorable with a month of special offers and events! Stroll along a wide variety of breathtaking automobiles during KLASSIC CAR CRUISE NIGHTS, 8/6, 13, 20 and 27; watch AMAZING FIREWORKS! light up the night sky on 8/4, 11 and 18; and join your little ones for COCA COLA FAMILY DAY and ride all the rides for one low price on every Friday through 9/12!

“Passport To Fun” Summer Program, Kidnetic, 2 Changebridge Road, Montville, (973)331-9001, www.kidneticnj.org. Children are invited to dive into fun at Kidnetic this summer as they jump and run in the open play room, create masterpieces in the art room, make delicious snacks, dance, sing, play fun games and take part in wonderful theme weeks! For ages 3 - 6. Pre reg. req. Ongoing Tues., Wed. & Thurs. through 8/15, 9am - 12:30pm.

Summer Beading Adventures, BeadLuxe, locations in Bedminster and Summit, www.BeadLuxe.com. Drop into one of BeadLuxe’s locations this summer as they make learning the skills of making beaded jewelry even more fun and exciting by offering all new themes and all new projects! Each week a new captivating theme will focus on a specific aspect of jewelry making for beginner and advanced skills levels. Whether you’re interested in making your own beads and pendants, learning about stones, discovering different jewelry styles from around the world or designing your own unique jewelry line, BeadLuxe has the camp for you! Weekly Summer Programs run through 8/19. Call their Bedminster location at (908)901-9800 or their Summit location at (908)598-9111 for more info., or to reg.

Therapeutic & Educational Summer Camp Program, The Stepping Forward Counseling Center, Livingston, (973)533-6990, www.steppingforwardcounselingcenter.com. The Stepping Forward Counseling Center welcomes families to a summer of fun, sun and friends when they host their annual camp program. This comprehensive program allows participants to choose one to eight weeks of camp. Activities are specially designed to help children achieve goals, conquer fears, build confidence and self-esteem, develop an enthusism for life and strengthen skills to last a lifetime. All programs are led by a patient, well-trained staff of instructors. Pre reg. req. Ongoing through 8/22.

Bowcraft Playland, 2545 Route 22 West, Scotch Plains, (908)389-1234, www.bowcraft.com. Turn an ordinary day out with the family into something truly memorable with a trip to Bowcraft! Home to an awesome array of rides and attractions, Bowcraft has so much to offer fun-lovers of all ages! Take an amazing ride on the park’s brand new new Crossbow Roller Coaster, or take a spin on the new Muzik Express! In addition, there are plenty of old favorites, including The Drop Zone, Crazy Submarine, Galleon Pirate Ship, Frog Hopper, Scrambler, just to name a few. And younger visitors will love the Merry Go Round, Train, Bumper Cars, and Tilt-A-Whirl. Bowcraft is open daily through 9/7, and then on weekends through the end of October.

New Attractions!, Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari, 1 Six Flags Blvd. in Jackson, (732)928-2000, www.sixflags.com. Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari is open for another fun-tastic summer season, complete with two brand new attractions that visitors of all ages won’t want to miss. Just in time for the release of Warner Bros. hottest summer blockbuster, Six Flags proudly unveils The Dark Knight Coaster! This amazing indoor roller coaster will take you on the ride of a lifetime using a combination of storytelling, physical movement, video, sound and special effects that you have to see to believe. And as the sun goes down, park-goers will watch in awe as drummers, puppeteers, singers, dancers and acrobats create a breathtaking nightime fantasyland during the new Glow In The Dark Parade! Open daily through Labor Day. Call for directions, hours, admission prices and more!

Wild West City, Route 206, Netcong, (973)347-8900, www.WildWestCity.com. The best of the west in the heart of the east comes alive before your eyes once again at Wild West City! Celebrating their 52nd season, visitors will step back in time as they stroll down the main street lined with old-fashioned hitching rails, old wooden sidewalks, old west memorabilia and 19th-century-style buildings. Then enjoy an array of attractions such as stagecoach rides, a backyard zoo, pony rides, a gold-prospecting area, working blacksmith shop, live country/western entertainment, interactive activities and a gunfight at the O.K. Corral! Open daily through Labor Day. Call for hours, admission prices and more info.

Beading Online!, www.BeadLuxe.com. BeadLuxe, the make-your-own jewelry workshop and boutique with locations in Summit and Bedminster, has proudly announced the launch of its on-line store! Known for stylish, unique and custom-made beaded jewelry, the new BeadLuxe site will make available its most popular items such as the Nomen Sterling Silver bracelets personalized for moms, grandmothers, young ladies or sweethearts, and the Sentiments Charm Necklaces which feature themes such as Mother, Friendship, Luck, Adventure and Baby. All BeadLuxe on-line jewelry is created in it’s New Jersey studios and will be presented in BeadLuxe’s signature gift box and beaded tassel. For details and locations, visit on-line at www.BeadLuxe.com.

Franchise Opportunity, Thinkertots, (877)TOTS-444, www.thinkertots.com. Who says work can’t be fun? Thinkertots provides age-appropriate education and creative stimulation for children from birth to 5 years of age. Founded by a mom who’s a child development professional, Thinkertots classes are fun and enlightening for children and their parents alike. A Thinkertots franchise is easy to open and operate. If you love helping kids learn and would enjoy spending time with your own children while working in your own challenging, flexible and close to home business, Thinkertots will teach you everything you need to know.

Get Creative!, Bass Arts Studio, 202 Park St., Montclair, (973)509-7588, www.bassartsstudio.com. Children, teens and adults are invited to have some fun and explore their creative side during the new season of classes at Bass Arts Studio. Offering programs in drawing, painting, pen and ink, collage, clay and more, Bass Arts Studio is the ideal place for visitors of all ages and abilities. Children will be introduced to small class size and step-by-step instruction in a nurturing environment that helps to support the budding artist that exists in every child. Sessions are ongoing now!. Call today to find out more or visit Bass Arts Studio online.

Grand Opening!!!, Jeeyune Nails & Spa, 596 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)655-1900. Step inside this brand new salon/spa and pamper yourself with a manicure, pedicure, massage therapy and much more! Open Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 7:30pm; and Saturday, 9am - 6pm.

Grand Opening - A Brand New Facility!, Jazzberries Center for Music & Art, 1677 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood, (973) 762-6575, www.jazzberries.kindermusik.net. Kindermusik with Susan Leone is proud to announce that they are now in a brand new facility! The new center will house two spacious studios, a classroom and a large waiting area/retail space. The retail space will offer children’s CD’s, instruments and books and toys related to music and art. The entire space will be very child friendly, with toys, books and games and fun surfaces to explore. The full range of Kindermusik classes will still be offered for newborns through 7 years where children and families come together for weekly classes of singing, chanting, movement, playing instruments and more! Call for hours and more info.

Language Time, The Language Workshop for Children introduces your little ones to the cultures and tales of other countries in their “Open to the Public” Story & Song Time series. Designed for children ages 2 - 6, this weekly program gives participants a chance to hear stories in a new language, watch felt board play, and build a repetoire of foreign words and phrases. Spanish Story & Song Time classes are offered every Tuesday at 2:45pm and Chinese Story & Song Time classes are available every Friday at 2:45pm. Call (800)731-0830 or visit www.languageworkshopforchildren.com to reserve your spot.

La Leche League: Monthly Support Meetings, (973)467-1961 The La Leche League of Millburn hosts these informative monthly “Mother to Mother” support meetings that are designed to offer advice, support and camaraderie to new mothers who are currently or are considering breastfeeding. Meetings held on the first Wed. of each month at 10am. Call for location and more info.

The Messy Artist, 60 Valley St., South Orange, (973)378-2425, www.themessyartist.com. After seven fun and successful seasons of creating art with young children, The Messy Artist is ready to begin its 9th season in a brand new location! This creative, hands-on art studio for kids is getting ready for a spectacular grand opening in their brand new home at 60 Valley St. in South Orange. The spacious new facility allows The Messy Artist to offer a broad art curriculum to children as young as 18 months through 5th grade. Caregiver & Me Classes, Drop-Off Classes, Storybook Art and even exciting Birthday Parties are all available! For grand opening date and times, call The Messy Artist at (973)378-2425 or visit them online at www.themessyartist.com.

Mothers & More— Essex County Chapter, (973)863-2351, www.essexmoms.org. Supporting all moms (working, non-working, part-time, etc.), this organization offers bi-monthly meetings, playgroups, Moms Night Out, Book Club, 40+ (a playgroup for moms in their late 30’s/40’s), Scrapbook Club, Mom & Tots Outing, E-mail Loop, and much more! They support the woman behind the mom! Please call for more info.

Mothers Of Only Children of Northern NJ - Are you a Mother of an Only Child???, Join together with other families of Onlies!!! Their group has 80+ families from all over Northern NJ. They offer activities such as getting together with the other Moms or fun outings with the kids!!! For more information please contact Joanne at jkowalski_makeovers @yahoo.com

Performing Arts Classes, Stagestruck Performing Arts Center, 1790 Springfield Ave., New Providence and 200 Hartshorn Dr., Short Hills, (908)464-5916, www.sskpac.com. Don’t let your aspiring dancer, artist or actor miss out this year on classes at Stage Struck. From Cheer Dance to Harry Potter Fantasy Art and Showstoppers Chorale, this performing arts center has it all! Class size is limited, so call today to sign up! Adult classes are also available.

Postpartum Depression Support Group, Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center, South Orange Ave., Livingston, (973)762-4147. This helpful group meets every Tuesday from 10am - 11:30am and provides education and support to women suffering from prenatal and postpartum anxiety and/or depression. Call group Facilitator Lauren Meisels, Ph.D at the above number for more information. Call (973)322-7309 to arrange free child care (at least 24 hours in advance). Call for more info., or to reg.

Skating at the Codey Arena, The Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain, West Orange, (973) 731-3828. LEARN TO SKATE CLASSES. Choose from group instruction or private skating instruction as aspiring skaters of all ages learn to skate from professional instructors who believe in giving just the right amount of individual attention. Group Skating Instruction is ongoing now. OPEN HOCKEY FOR ADULTS. Adult skaters who love to be out on the ice are invited to step inside the newly renovated Codey Arena for the opportunity to compete during these new winter sessions. PUBLIC SKATING HOURS. Lace up your skates and glide into winter during public skating hours at this newly renovated arena! Call the arena or email to codeyarena@comcast.net for times and more info.

Skating’s In Session!: Skating Classes, Floyd Hall Arena, Campus of Montclair State University, Little Falls, (973)746-7744, www.floydhallarena.com. Discover the most fun you can have on ice during the winter season at Floyd Hall Arena. Their “Learn to Play” Hockey School offers introductory classes for children of all ages and abilities, covering all of the hockey basics, from skating and stick handling to shooting. Featuring small class sizes and plenty of fun, Floyd Hall’s “Learn to Skate” classes come in a variety of age-appropriate categories such as “Tots,” “My Tot and Me,” “Superstars” and adults. Pre reg. req. New classes form fast...so don’t wait to register yourself and your child! Call for fall schedules and more info.

Strange Fruit in South Orange!, The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), One SOPAC Way, South Orange, (973)275-1114. An Amazing Outdoor event for the whole family comes all the way from Australia this month when the South Orange Performing Arts Center welcomes Strange Fruit! This outrageous Melbourne-based performing arts company produces and performs a remarkable style of work that fuses theatre, dance and circus using a unique elevated medium. Perched atop 4 metre high flexible poles of original design, the troupe bends and sways through the air, captivating and engaging the audience with a world-renowned repertoire that celebrates a wide variety of themes and stories! 8/20. Call for times and prices.

Luna Stage Company, 695 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)744-3309. Offering a wide array of culturally diverse theater productions for all audiences. Call the box office for tickets and more information.

12 Miles West Theater Company, 562 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, (973)259-9187. An award-winning, not-for-profit theatre company, 12 Miles West offers performances for all tastes and ages throughout the year. Call the box office to reserve/purchase tickets.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater, 5 Mead St., South Orange, (973)378-7754. A small, professional, not-for-profit theater group, Dreamcatcher focuses on allowing the audience to connect with their core group of professional lead actors in each performance they put on. Call the box office for tickets, or log on to www.dreamcatcherrep.org.

Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)376-4343. A professional theatre with a long history of successful productions devoted to enriching the cultural lives of a wide and diverse audience. Call the box office for tickets or log on to www.papermill.org for schedules, showtimes and more information.

Burgdorff Center for the Arts, 10 Durand Rd., Maplewood, (973)378-2133, Host a number of concerts, festivals and much more, including the annual Maplewood Jazz festival. Call for events schedule and more information.

Pushcart Players, 197 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, (973)857-1115, Award winning professional theater company, the Pushcart Players offer the finest artists and art educators available in the field to bring the best of theater arts to young viewers in schools and local theaters. Call for more information.

Rascals Comedy Club, 499 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)744-3711. A special way for friends to get together and have a good laugh, while enjoying good food and drinks and excellent live entertainment for the same cost as dinner and a movie. For tickets, call the box office or visit their Web site at www.rascalscomedyclub.com.

What Exit? Theater Company, 482 Summit Ave., Maplewood, (973)763-0805. Dedicated to producing contemporary comedies and comic dramas for a variety of audiences, all complete with the healing power of laughter. Call now for tickets and further information.

Trumpets Jazz Club, 6 Depot Square, Montclair, (973)744-2600. Presents an array of jazz music, to complement their delicious Italian/Continental menu. Call for more information.

SummerART, Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair, (973)746-5555, www.montclairartmuseum.org. SUMMERART provides four two-week sessions of thematic programming during which children will work in mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and printmaking. Visits to the Museum’s galleries are included to enrich the child’s knowledge of fine arts. Pre reg. req. Ongoing through 8/22.

Body Wars: Fighting Infection, Staying Healthy, The Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, (973)596-6550, www.NewarkMuseum.org. The Newark Museum provides a fun and educational way for parents and children to spend time together, with the opening of their latest interactive exhibition. Designed especially for kids, this exhibit allows visitors to become forensic scientists or biologists as they enter the microscopic world of deadly (and a few friendly) microbes. Through fun interactives they can learn how to prevent illnesses, battle the immune system, “diagnose” mystery infections and lots more. Open daily through 10/1.

Smart Bug: Insect Societies, The Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, (973)596-6550, www.NewarkMuseum.org. Explore the incredible world of social insects, and learn how ants, termites and bees communicate with each other to build complex societies that include roads, tunnels, nurseries and even air-conditioning systems. Ongoing through 12/30.

Ongoing at the Museum, The Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, (973)596-6550. AFTER THE PHARAOHS: ART OF COPTIC EGYPT 300-1000 AD, 49 Washington St., Newark, (973)596-6550. This brand new exhibit explores the themes of home, Christianity, Egyptian and Greco-Roman Religion, Workshop and Marketplace, and clothing and accessories. Ongoing. ANCIENT MICROWORLDS. This exhibition is dedicated to introducing visitors to the fascinating world of scientists and the research in which they are involved. The current exhibition showcases scientific photography which includes 20 large format images co-mingled with remarkable fossil specimens in five areas of study: Sea Creatures, Bacteria, Plants, Dinosaur Bone and Shelled Marine Animals. Ongoing, please call for museum hours and admission prices.

Ongoing Exhibits and Programs, The Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum, 192 Dodd St., East Orange, (973)673-6900. BLACK PIONEERS OF THE WEST. Learn the history of the west, the lives of the pioneers and the contributions of African Americans. Grades PreK-8. THE BODY SHOP. All matters relating to the human body are right here, from modern exercise equipment to nutrition and valuable lessons in science. Grades 2-8. GC STARGAZER. Kids become cadets on their maiden voyage into space. Pre reg. req. Grades 4-8. MAIN STREET VILLAGE. The museum’s youngest visitors explore miniature stores lining Main Street including a realistic construction site, grocery store and cafe. Grades PreK-4. OFF THE PAGE. Youngsters are invited to enjoy storytelling at its best! Grades PreK-4. RE-USE-ITS. Children have the opportunity to recycle items into eye-catching arts & crafts. Grades PreK-8. SCIENCE WORKS LAB. Visitors discover that science is good and fun through hands-on demonstrations and experiments. Grades PreK-8. TIME TRAVELLER THEATER. Multi-media presentations bring historical events to life! All ages. TOMB OF THE ANCIENT KINGS. Take an exciting archaeological excursion to ancient Egypt filled with exciting twists and turns. Grades PreK-8. WHERE IN THE WORLD. Traveling trunks and cultural close-ups are designed to bring us the lives of our friends in other countries. All ages.

Family Fun for All Baseball Fans!, The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, on the Campus of Montclair State University, Valley Rd. and Normal Ave., Upper Montclair, (973)655-2377. More than half a century after his big league debut, this Hall of Famer and New York Yankee legend continues to prove that “It ain’t over till it’s over.” This fun and educational museum is home to a wide variety of permanent and rotating exhibits which highlight baseball’s social history and the life of one of the greatest catchers in all of baseball history. Visitors will have an opportunity to stroll through a multitude of memorabilia including baseballs and bats Yogi used in games to childhood photos and World Series trophies borrowed from the city of New York and the New York Yankees. Museum Hours: Wed. - Sun., 12 - 5pm. Admission: $6 adults, $4 students, members and children under age 5 free.

The Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair, (973)746-9118. Dedicated to collecting and preserving high quality American and Native American art in contemporary and traditional pieces. Visitors are welcome to tour the museum on their own, although group tours are available.

Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, (973)731-5800. Committed to providing an enriching environmental experience so that future generations will be inspired to appreciate and protect all wildlife, the zoo is home to a variety of plant and animal life, and provides children’s workshops throughout the year. Call for zoo hours and more information.